Mark Gower's equaliser earned struggling Southend a richly-deserved point at out-of-form Coventry.

The visitors had failed to score in all but one of their previous eight matches and they looked to be staring defeat in the face after Elliott Ward gave Coventry an early lead.

The centre-back's second goal of the season from a 12th-minute corner filled the hosts with renewed confidence after three successive defeats, although Alan McCormack should have levelled in the final minute before the break.

But Gower cancelled out Ward's strike with a composed finish in the 54th minute - Southend's first goal in five games.

Southend looked the most likely to snatch victory in the moments after the equaliser, and Adam Barrett was only denied by the crossbar.

But the visitors had to survive a late onslaught to deny victory to a Coventry side who have not won in four matches.

Sky Blues manager Micky Adams made six changes but it was Southend, who have not won away in the league all season, who began strongly.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce fed inside for Lee Bradbury to turn and shoot wide with less than two minutes gone.

The visitors caused Coventry a couple more anxious moments but after a brief spell of pressure, the Sky Blues took the lead 11 minutes into the match.

Darren Currie's corner from the right was flicked on at the near post by Robert Page and Ward hit the back of the net with a low finish back across goal from 10 yards.

Winger Campbell-Ryce was a constant threat and his lofted cross found Bradbury at the far post but the experienced forward's shot was blocked by goalkeeper Andy Marshall and Andrew Whing although Southend created little with their superior possession.

With a minute of the half left McCormack broke through and shot straight at Marshall, who took the pace off the ball and was alert to backtrack and push off the line.

After the restart, the greasy conditions began to dictate more and a couple of minutes in Marshall made a scrambling stop from Gower's shot, which had taken a wicked deflection.

Coventry's Stephen Hughes had a low effort blocked after he was slipped through by Leon McKenzie.

But eight minutes into the second period Gower grabbed a rare goal for Southend, surging into the area on the left and tucking the ball inside the near post.

Just past the hour, Shrimpers skipper Kevin Maher's low stab from 20 yards flew just past the post and Hughes flicked away Campbell-Ryce's dipping cross.

From the resulting corner, Barrett's header thumped back off the bar.

By that time, water was sitting on the surface of the pitch and the game was turning into a scrappy affair.

With five minutes on the clock Southend goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan pushed a Currie half-volley over the bar.

Coventry bombarded Southend's box in the final minutes but the visitors stood firm and held on for a draw and the final whistle was greeted with boos.

Teams:

Coventry Marshall, Whing, Page, Ward, Hall,Birchall (Adebola 71), Hughes (Osbourne 74), Doyle, Currie,Kyle, McKenzie (Tabb 77).

Subs Not Used: Cameron, Virgo.

Booked: Kyle, Adebola.

Goals: Ward 12.

Southend Flahavan, Hunt, Barrett, Clarke, Hammell,Campbell-Ryce, Maher, McCormack (Francis 81), Gower, Bradbury,Harrold (Eastwood 68).

Subs Not Used: Welch, Hooper, Riera.

Goals: Gower 54.

Att: 16,623

Ref: D Whitestone (Northamptonshire).